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Cosmetology schools in Georgia

Georgia has 47 accredited campuses awarding cosmetology credentials. If you finish and work as a cosmetologist in Georgia, expect to start around $17,310–$24,810 and reach a median of $34,560 with experience; the top quarter earn $48,730 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Georgia). Graduates of these Georgia programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $15,357 in their first year, against $17,178 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists earn in Georgia

$17,310starting (10th percentile)
$24,810early career (25th)
$34,560median, all experience
$48,730experienced (75th)
$79,170top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 7,910 employed in Georgia. National median: $35,790.

Campuses in Georgia, ranked by what their graduates earned

47campuses in Georgia
3,432credentials awarded / yr
$15,357median earnings, yr 1 (Georgia)
$17,178median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AlbanyAmericusAthensAtlantaAugustaByronClarkesvilleClarkstonColumbusConyersCummingDaltonDecaturDublinGainesvilleGriffinKennesawLake CityLawrencevilleLilburnMariettaMorrowNorcrossRomeRoswellSandersvilleSandy SpringsSavannahStatesboroStone MountainThomasvilleValdostaVidaliaWacoWarner RobinsWaycross

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Gwinnett Technical College Lawrenceville Public 17 $20,635 $13,699 32% not reported
Elaine Sterling Institute Atlanta for-profit 21 $20,381 $9,500 67% $34,770
Empire Beauty School-Savannah Savannah for-profit 64 $17,754 $10,667 40% $22,352
Empire Beauty School-Gwinnett Lawrenceville for-profit 36 $17,698 $12,500 50% $21,980
Empire Beauty School-Kennesaw Kennesaw for-profit 30 $17,698 $12,500 75% $20,949
Empire Beauty School-Augusta Augusta for-profit 21 $17,189 $12,090 30% $22,611
Keune Academy by 124 Lawrenceville for-profit 63 $17,157 $9,833 85% $19,843
Paul Mitchell the School-Esani Roswell for-profit 111 $17,057 $9,833 77% $22,701
Empire Beauty School-Northlake Atlanta for-profit 36 $16,897 $13,583 22% $22,678
International School of Skin Nailcare & Massage Therapy Sandy Springs for-profit 17 $16,825 $6,222 100% not reported
Athens Technical College Athens Public 133 $16,815 not reported 51% not reported
Georgia Career Institute Conyers for-profit 84 $16,570 $8,434 69% $19,399
Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta Public 116 $16,494 not reported 38% not reported
Georgia Institute of Cosmetology Athens for-profit 122 $16,176 $10,686 54% $19,039
Augusta Technical College Augusta Public 85 $16,072 not reported 31% not reported
Empire Beauty School-Morrow Morrow for-profit 64 $15,988 $12,000 29% $21,907
South Georgia Technical College Americus Public 14 $15,702 not reported 61% not reported
Paul Mitchell the School-Atlanta Atlanta for-profit 120 $15,415 $12,000 48% $24,623
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta Public 245 $15,411 not reported 50% not reported
West Georgia Technical College Waco Public 240 $15,303 $7,274 35% not reported
Lanier Technical College Gainesville Public 144 $15,063 not reported 34% not reported
Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville Public 152 $15,042 not reported 31% not reported
Columbus Technical College Columbus Public 33 $14,999 not reported 27% not reported
Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro Public 61 $14,904 not reported 43% not reported
Atlanta Technical College Atlanta Public 100 $14,797 $7,927 49% not reported
Georgia Piedmont Technical College Clarkston Public 23 $14,699 not reported 44% not reported
Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome Public 202 $14,544 not reported 43% not reported
Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins Public 281 $14,241 not reported 47% not reported
Savannah Technical College Savannah Public 111 $14,227 not reported 43% not reported
Coastal Pines Technical College Waycross Public 154 $14,039 not reported 48% not reported
Dalton Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology Dalton for-profit 18 $13,899 $5,500 81% $17,546
Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin Public 112 $13,074 not reported 58% not reported
Rivertown School of Beauty Barber Skin Care and Nails Columbus for-profit 12 $12,969 $9,166 40% $23,987
Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville Public 60 $12,720 not reported 65% not reported
North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville Public 126 $12,351 not reported 39% not reported
Pro Way Hair School Stone Mountain for-profit 12 $12,011 $11,703 60% $21,516
Southeastern Technical College Vidalia Public 47 $11,894 not reported 38% not reported
Albany Technical College Albany Public 65 not reported not reported 42% not reported
MAK Beauty Institute Cumming for-profit 56 not reported $7,305 74% $18,012
Beaver Beauty Academy Decatur for-profit 11 not reported not reported 54% $16,227
Hogan Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics Lilburn for-profit 11 not reported $9,750 83% $35,978
Albany Beauty Academy Albany for-profit 2 not reported not reported not reported $15,263
Georgia Beauty Academy - Dalton Dalton not reported not reported not reported not reported
KVN Beauty Academy Dublin not reported not reported not reported not reported
Lovett Beauty School Lake City not reported not reported not reported not reported
Millennium Beauty Institute Norcross not reported not reported not reported not reported
The Beauty Academy Byron not reported not reported not reported not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.

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